DISCOVER CUSTOMS HOUSE, A LANDMARK HERITAGE BUILDING…
Customs House is one of Sydney's historic landmark buildings, which has featured in the working and cultural life of the city since it was constructed in 1845.
“For over 150 years, Customs House played an active role as the primary trade gateway for goods and people flowing into Sydney and Australia.”
Heritage is important to Customs House and the site. For over 150 years, Customs House played an active role as the primary trade gateway for goods and people flowing into Sydney and Australia and it continues to thrive in modern-day Sydney.
Customs House is located on a significant site where the local Eora people are said to have watched the First Fleet land. The Aboriginal flag is now permanently flown from the building.
For many years, Customs House was not only a focal point for trade but also the building and square in front of it provided a focus for major national celebrations. Today Customs House Square plays host to numerous cultural events and exhibitions.
In the 19th and 20th centuries dual role of Customs was to raise revenue by taxing trade and to keep society physically and morally isolated from socially unacceptable goods, products, ideas and diseases.
The Australian Customs Service occupied Customs House until 1990. The City of Sydney was given the building to operate in 1994 by the Federal Government.
View Customs House Heritage Interpretative Panels
